WWE Clash of Champions 2016 Preview and Predictions

I don’t know if the build-up for the matches have been blah, the character development nil, or that I just don’t have interest in seeing some of these matches but this PPV event, the first just featuring the WWE Raw roster, just doesn’t seem like a do not miss event.

Here are my thoughts on the matches and who I think SHOULD win – not necessarily will – in no particular order.

Nia Jax vs. Alicia Fox – Pre-Show Match

Source: wwe.com

They’re building Jax up to be a monster and Alicia Fox has been irrelevant for a long time, although I always thought she was an underutilized and poorly booked talent. Being on the Pre-Show, this match may go a bit longer than Jax’s usual squash matches but probably not by much. Winner: Nia Jax

Sami Zayn vs. Chris Jericho

Source: wwe.com

This feud came about because Jericho is now “friends” with Zayn’s former main nemesis, Kevin Owens. Owens moved on to more important things, so this is where they placed Zayn as he was in limbo after all the amazing matches with the man who is now WWE Universal Champion. I expect a good match out of these two, but the only logical thing to do here is boost Zayn by having him outsmart and beat the veteran. Winner: Sami Zayn

Cesaro vs. Sheamus – Final Match in the Best of Seven Series

Source: wwe.com

I appreciate what these two bring to the table and I appreciate the efforts they put in their matches but I am done watching these two wrestle for a long time. With both of them having to come up with fresh ideas for all these matches, I actually feel bad for whoever loses. Cesaro has come back to tie this series after falling behind 0-3, so I think the underdog wins here and hopefully we find out what championship the winner gets a shot at. Winner: Cesaro

The New Day (Champs) vs. The Club – WWE Raw Tag Team Championship Match

Source: wwe.com

The Club were reduced to being comedians and not utilized properly from their debut. They should have been portrayed as major ass-kickers that should be feared. At least they’ve moved away from the comedy, but if The Club isn’t dominant here and don’t win the belts, they will be a write-off as they are really damaged in the eyes of many right now. I will throw the first object I see at my TV if they don’t win as I’m sick of The New Day and their antics. Winners: The Club

There as been no build for this match for most Raw viewers – and even less if you didn’t watch the CWC Tournament on the WWE Network over the last few months. I wrote in my WWE Raw/Smackdown review of the week how I thought they missed the mark totally with reintroducing the Cruiserweight division.

Pairing Brian Kendrick with the newly crowned champ, TJ Perkins, is one of the most logical choices and those in the know can rest assured these two will have a great match and try and rival the main players on the roster. Unfortunately for Kendrick, Perkins just won this whole Tournament just over a week ago so there’s no way he’s losing. Perhaps they’ll use this match as a launch for a feud with a meaning behind it. Winner: TJ Perkins

I really didn’t think that this needed to be a triple threat, but it will give all the ladies a chance to shine. This is actually the match I’m looking forward to the most as I hope Sasha and Charlotte redeem themselves from the scary botch-fest their last match together turned out to be. I think Bayley will take the pin here to further her underdog story. I see something between Sasha and Bayley interacting in some matter before Charlotte comes in and steals the win. Winner: Charlotte

Rusev (Champ) vs. Roman Reigns – US Championship Match

Source: wwe.com

Almost everything that was leading up to this match, in my mind, put Rusev as the face and Reigns as the heel. I really have no interest in seeing this match. I’m not sure why either. It just may be because I feel more empathy towards Rusev’s character over the past two months with his involvement with Reigns and want to see Rusev get his revenge. Unfortunately, how WWE Creative wants the story to be is the opposet. I have a bad feeling the outcome of the match is not what I would like to see and that makes me want to watch it even less. Winner: Roman Reigns

While the action in this match will be pretty good, and probably one of the best matches of the night, the build-up has been sorely lacking. You have Rollins, who WWE has had in our faces as one of the most cocky, cowardly, and villainous heels in the past few years, come back from a major injury and WWE didn’t embrace it. Instead they got him to get the fans to hate him to continue to try and put Reigns over as the man. Now, over the past two-three weeks, they want the audience to cheer him? Why? He has done nothing to make them do so.

What’s even more confusing is how at the end of Raw on Monday, WWE wrote for him to make the save for Roman Reigns. The same man he was berating, mocking, and insulting over the last two months. And for what reason? To get the crowd to cheer Rollins? The majority boo Reigns so why would they cheer for Rollins making the save? What a mess.

Anyway, I’m on team Kevin Owens for this match but I do hope they put on a hell of a show. Kevin Owens is money with the title right now and there’s no way in hell Owens is dropping it this soon. Plus, WWE wants the crowd to get behind Rollins, right? So what better way than having him a) chase the belt and b) have Triple H show up again to cost Rollins the match? That way, Rollins can deal with Triple H, someone the crowd loves to boo, to try and get over his new baby face role. Winner: Kevin Owens